In a dynamic collaboration, the University of the Arts London (UAL) and HEREWEAR (HW) have come together to embark on a unique project. UAL x HW brings MA students from UAL’s Textile Design, Fashion Futures, and Service Design courses to explore the fascinating themes of HEREWEAR within their studies. Let’s meet the talented students participating in this exciting program.

Unveiling the Students:

Over the upcoming weeks, we are thrilled to introduce you to the exceptional students of UAL x HW. With their distinct perspectives and unwavering dedication, these individuals showcase their creativity and passion through thought-provoking designs.

Innovation through Collaboration:

UAL x HW highlights the power of collaboration in fostering innovation. By combining the expertise and perspectives of students across different design disciplines, this project creates an environment where fresh ideas thrive and innovative solutions emerge. Together, these students redefine the boundaries of fashion design, incorporating sustainability and circularity into their creative processes.

As the students delve into sustainable materials and circular fashion concepts, they ignite the possibility of a more responsible and innovative fashion industry. Stay tuned to meet these remarkable students and witness the transformative power of the project. 

Meet the students:

1- Anastasia Abramova

Image Credits: Anastasia Abramova

Introduce yourself as a designer – What is your background?

I am an MA Textile Design student at Chelsea College of Arts, and in my work I use hand and digital embroidery, weaving, as well as needle punch techniques.

I believe in the importance of a holistic approach, where the aesthetic of an object serves as a tool to capture attention and reveal an important message. In my practice, I express ideas about finding harmony in a troubled world and a sustainable approach to consumption.

I love creating 3D objects that people want to touch and interact with. Through tactile qualities and playing with color and texture, I convey my ideas to the viewer.

Introduce your work – What will your major project be about?

For my major project in collaboration with the HEREWEAR project, I intend to create a textile piece of work that addresses the complexity of emotions in the everyday life of a person. I will work on a visual language that helps people to connect with their internal state and find peace in a hectic lifestyle. I will be using leftover fabrics and used clothes in a patchworking technique. I would like to give a second life and demonstrate the value of these materials. 

Image Credits: Anastasia Abramova

Image Credits: Anastasia Abramova

What are you most excited about with this collaboration? 

I am excited to get input from the expert researchers in the HEREWEAR project to learn more about how recycled materials can be used aesthetically in design and what solutions can help promote sustainable manufacturing approaches.

So far, I have greatly appreciated the feedback I received during this project, it helped me to look at the possible development of my project from different and unexpected angles.

Image Credits: Anastasia Abramova

Who would you like to connect with within the HEREWEAR community?

I am glad that I can meet textile industry professionals and students from different fields. I would like to make connections within internship opportunities and learn more about community textile hubs.

2 – Iona Beresford

I am Iona Beresford, an MA Fashion Futures student at the London College of Fashion. The main interest of my work is looking at the geological impacts of garment waste, and I am exploring this by creating interactive installations that provoke critical thinking. Though my background is typically in fashion design, I am particularly interested in using technologies such as topography, 3D modeling, and creative computer science to capture the garment waste impact upon landscapes within the global south (the destination of fast fashion cast-offs). This will inspire value change amongst consumers. 

Within my major project in collaboration with the HEREWEAR project, I intend to develop 

two or three installations that reflect the geological impact of garment waste and convey the damage that fast fashion consumption and disposal are having on the planet. 

Using topography and 3D modeling (methods used by geologists), I will create interactive installations that visualise the impact of garment waste on our natural landscapes to invoke critical conversation around the effects. So far, I have been experimenting with creative computer science to help me visualize this impact through topography, which has taken the form of an AR interactive sandbox. In one sentence: The sandbox participants can add or remove garment waste and watch the landscape transform.

Iona Beresford, AR sandbox installation ‚100’s and 100’s of Years of Layers’ Private viewing,2023

I have chosen to look at the geological impact of fashion as there is a knowledge gap here, and I would like to contribute to the research of these fields. So, when I say that I am looking at combining geology and fashion, I’m not so much talking about a style that looks geological (though that sounds enticing); I am considering the long-term geological impact of garment waste.

Here are some images of my work so far – I had a fantastic time creating this AR sandbox installation. It is coded using ‘processing’ and RGB depth perception to capture depth and space information.

Iona Beresford, AR sandbox installation ‚100’s and 100’s of Years of Layers’, The Design Museum showcase, 2023

Iona Beresford, AR sandbox installation ‚100’s and 100’s of Years of Layers’ Private viewing,2023

The HEREWEAR project presents a fascinating opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals worldwide! I look forward to speaking to experts working in a circular design to learn more about garment waste management and the alternative options for garments post-use. I would also like to discuss and deliberate with the HEREWEAR partners on the alternate futures of fashion concerning fashion consumption and how we envisage the future of landfills.

I want to connect with companies or professionals dealing with garment waste and landfills and those using technology such as AI tracking to monitor waste disposal. I would also be thrilled to talk to any geologists with a particular interest in the Anthropocene, the speculative futures that our current lifestyles as humans may lead to, and what this will look like geologically. If there is also anyone who also uses processing or projection mapping – let’s chat! I believe combining the arts and the sciences is the future of fashion and will help us lead a sustainable future.

Stay tuned: our social media and blog will be updated soon with new students.